DELIGHTED volunteers from The Talking Newspaper in Darlington moved to a new home at the town's main newspaper offices last week.

They had to leave their former Arts Centre home because of new legislation on disability access.

But The Advertiser's parent companyNewsquest North-East stepped in and offered the charity a new studio and office space on the ground floor of head offices in Priestgate.

This week The Talking Newspaper, which serves Darlington and surrounding villages, was recording its first edition in its new studios, which have been fitted out with the help of local firm MT Audio.

The charity's old home was on the fourth floor of the Arts Centre, in Vane Terrace, but rules coming into force in 2004 say all community groups must be accessible to disabled people.

The Talking Newspaper records items of news and information from The Advertiser series, The Northern Echo and the Darlington & Stockton Times, as well as a quarterly audio version of the borough council's Town Crier.

The tapes are sent out once a week, free of charge to 350 people who live or have lived in Darlington. Some go as far away as the Isle of Wight. The tapes are then returned to the charity which recycles them.

It has a team of 45 volunteers but many more have left because they were unable to manage the five sets of Arts Centre stairs.

The charity's chairman, Paddy Dinsdale, said: "We are very, very grateful to Newsquest and everyone in this office. They have made us feel welcome from practically the word go, and helped us in so many ways."

Of the Talking Newspaper's new home, she said: "It means we have accessible premises to come and work and produce our paper in. It's such a joy to know we don't have to puff and pant our way up five flights of stairs."

Anybody interested in subscribing to the service, or volunteering can contact the charity on (01325) 465101